I Give Thanks To My GodPhilippians 1:3-5

3Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. NLT

3Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Lydia and her household

Demon-possessedslave girl

Philippian Jailer and his entire household

All you need to be is willing to be used by Him.

Acts 16:40 - When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town. NLT

Talk and you say what you already know, but listen and you

learn something new. 7700 Illustrations

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 - We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ESV

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ESV

Are you a Thankful Person

or a Critical Person?

4Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

Biblical joy is experienced when we focus on the needs and growth of

others and not ourselves.

Philippians 2:4 - Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. NLT

5for you have been my partners (Koinonia) in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.

Koinonia - fellowship, community, communion & joint participation.

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon

Koinoniainvolves helping other Saints with

the physical needs of food, clothing, shelter and money.

Oneness in Christthat we are eternal members of

God’s family

Get below the surface of life

Take off your mask and allow people to see who you really are

Confessing your sins to each other

Forgiving others

Are you one who lives in light of your freedom in Christ and willingly admits your sin?

Are you one who thinks being a Saint means not sinning, no

problems and no issues or at least you don’t tell others about these

things?

Hebrews 10:24-25 - Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. NLT

We are to Confess our Sins to each other, Forgive each other and

Pray for each other

Hebrews 3:12-13 – Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ESV

James 5:16 - Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. NLT

We are to recognize that we are members of God’s army and we

have the same enemy--

The Devil and his demons

You look beyond income, gender and race and look to the heart

James 2:1-7 - My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.

3If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

5Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?

6But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? NLT

Growth in Humility

James 4:13-16 - Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

15What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. NLT

We suffer together and for each other.

James 5:7-11 - Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! 10For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. NLT

Meditation & Application

Philippians 1:3-5 - Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5for you have been my partners (Koinonia)

in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. NLT

Meditation & Application

On your way home today, thank the Lord for 2 or 3 people, by name,

here at BFC –> Intercede for them before the Throne of God.

Meditation & Application

Reflect on the salvation God has given every Saint here at BFC and

experience the joy knowing that you will be with them forever.

Meditation & Application

Pursue Koinonia with a few saints here at BFC. Maybe getting together in your home every other week to

share and pray for each other. Make it a point to humble yourself and be open and honest about your life =

Joy.